A quick and easy version of an old-fashion apple crumble even the beginner can make. Go the easy route with frozen berries and pie filling, or use fresh berries and apples. Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream for the perfect company dessert or a family favorite.

Introduction
Quick and easy with only a 10-minute preparation. A can of pie filler, a couple of bags of frozen berries, add in a few pantry ingredients gets you a dessert you will feel proud to serve to friends and family. And lucky you, it is so simple to pull off.
I started Food Networks Berry Cookie Cobbler. I substituted a simple crumble top, added a fresh apple option, and discussed fresh fruit.
Now I try not to do many "semi-homemade" recipes, but I probably should do more, especially after this one.
👨🍳How to make
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- Prepare the crumble topping.
- Mix apple pie filling with berries, sugar, and cinnamon.
- Pour into a baking dish.
- Top with crumb mixture.
- Bake until golden brown—about 45 minutes.
🍎Using fresh apples
Granny Smith and Gala apples are both excellent choices. Cortland, Ida Red, Honey Crisp, or Roma also work well. But really, the apples you love and have in the house are usually the best choice for you.
I suggest avoiding Red Delicious or Macintosh apples, which don't cook well.
You need about 1 ½ pounds (4 medium to large) apples—peel and slice. Coat with an additional ⅓ cup of sugar and ½ teaspoon of cinnamon. If your apples are tart, increase the sugar a bit.
If the fresh apples may be exposed to the air after preparation, sprinkle them with a couple of teaspoons of lemon juice to prevent browning with oxidation.
This recipe defaults to a can of apple pie filling. Many, including me, would prefer fresh apples.
🍮Cobblers, Crumbles, vs. Crisps
Cobblers have a biscuit or cake topping.
Crumbles and crisps are commonly used interchangeably. The differentiating factor is crisps have oats in the topping and crumble do not. This seems to be not widely accepted. So I call this a crumble, but if you prefer, use crisp.
❓FAQs and variations
This works fine in an 8 by 8 or 9 by 6 baking dish. You can use a 9-inch round also. A 9 by 9 will just be thinner but taste fine.
A double recipe will fit nicely in a 9 by 13 cake pan.
Yes, use any fruit-based pie filling you want.
Yes, fresh berries will be great, but I never have that many fresh berries. It is a one-to-one substitution. No additional sugar or season would generally be needed. Almost any fresh berries or mixture will work, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, and others.
No, but you can if you wish.
Good refrigerated for 2-3 days or frozen for 2-3 months.
📖Crisp/Crumble Recipes
This recipe is listed in these categories. See them for more similar recipes.
🖼️Step-by-Step Photo Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350°.
Prepare the crumble topping. Combine one cup of flour, ½ cup of brown sugar, and ½ teaspoon of cinnamon. Melt one stick (½ cup) of butter in the microwave and mix it into the dry mixture.
In a large mixing bowl, combine two 12 oz bags of frozen mixed berries, one 21 oz can of apple pie filling, ⅓ cup sugar, and 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon.
Pour the berry mixture into an eight-by-eight or nine by six baking dish. Top with the crumb mixture.
Bake for 45 minutes until golden brown.
Allow to cool for a few minutes and severe warm with ice cream.
Recipe
Apple Berry Crumble—Quick & Easy
Ingredients
Crumble topping
- 1 cup flour
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ cup butter - one stick
Filling
- 21 oz apple pie filling - one can
- ⅓ cup sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoon cinnamon - less is ok
- 24 oz mixed berries - frozen two bags
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°.
- Prepare the crumble topping. Combine one cup of flour, ½ cup of brown sugar, and ½ teaspoon of cinnamon. Melt one stick (½ cup) of butter in the microwave and mix it into the dry mixture.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine two 12 oz bags of frozen mixed berries, one 21 oz can of apple pie filling, ⅓ cup sugar, and 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon.
- Pour the berry mixture into an eight-by-eight or nine by six baking dish. Top with the crumb mixture.
- Bake for 45 minutes until golden brown.
- Allow to cool for a few minutes and severe warm with ice cream.
Your Own Private Notes
Recipe Notes
Pro Tips
- This works fine in an 8 by 8 or 9 by 6 baking dish. You can use a 9 inch round also. A 9 by 9 will just be thinner but taste fine.
- A double recipe will fit nicely in a 9 by 13 cake pan.
- Use the pie filling and fruit you want.
- Best served warm with ice cream.
- If you don't want to do the crumble topping, then use one tube of sugar cookie dough crumbled up.
- Good refrigerated for 2-3 days and frozen for 2-3 months.
- You can use fresh apples of your choice. You will need about 1 ½ pounds—about 4 medium to large apples—prep and coat with an additional ⅓ cup of sugar and ½ teaspoon of cinnamon. A bit more sugar may be needed if the apples are tart
To adjust the recipe size:
You may adjust the number of servings in this recipe card under servings. This does the math for the ingredients for you. BUT it does NOT adjust the text of the instructions. So you need to do that yourself.
Nutrition Estimate
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Originally Published June 26, 2016. Updated with expanded options, refreshed photos, and a table of contents to help navigation.
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